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SHOUTOUTS

To Erika from Nell:

Grrl, what's this about "fat and therefore not pretty"? Pshaw!

A friend of mine is over 250 pounds has gorgeous hair, eyes, and skin, and is truly beautiful. And I tell her so. So does her adoring husband. I must say, I've been fat and thin; and equating beauty with weight is a dangerous road to go down. We all fall prey to it -- but it ain't necessarily so.

Lastly, I'd stick with the man who loved the larger you. Such men are indeed rare. Peace!

To New Kid from Loryn:

I have a similar problem getting to know people. I talked to a dear old friend and discovered that while I feel like I'm bubbling over with enthusiasm, apparently no one else can see it! And, according to my friend, people are very intimidated by my intelligence. I suspect you're in the same situation; what you think are hints, probably aren't. So be (what will seem to you) outrageously obvious. Don't just say, "I'm dying to see the 'X-Men' movie." Say, "Would you like to see the 'X-Men' movie after work on Friday?" When people go to lunch, ask if you can join them. Join classes. Answer personal ads.

Yeah, you'll feel like an idiot (I did, and still do at times). I can't say that things will change overnight, but some people will accept you, and some will even become friends. And one more hint: if you do think people might be intimidated by you, tell stories about stupid mistakes that you make; they'll be relieved. Good luck!